Re: 1981 CC - transom, decks, dog house.
 

I think my tank is 150 too. I don't think it's the original tank because it's actually in really good shape and not foamed in at all. Just a 2x4 on one end, and covered in green paint (epoxy?). Definitely post some pics of your 1981, what motor and electronics?

No sure if that "good luck" was as positive one or negative one... either way, thanks!

Re: 1981 CC - transom, decks, dog house.
 

Hey Ken....did you ever put humpty dumpty back together again?

Re: 1981 CC - transom, decks, dog house.
 

Nope. Had to go get married. Buying a house next, so the boat is lonely. Where do all the weekends go!

Check the site for tips everyday! Heron came out great. Nice job.

Did you see getthenet's mug on the last page of this months 'on the water'? His custom pogy rod is bent over and the elizabeth islands make a great backdrop. Ugly boat though.

Re: 1981 CC - transom, decks, dog house.
 

Oh no!! I love how you say "had to go get married" . . . you got strong armed into it!! Hahahaha . . . never again!!! When you get the home buyers tax credit . . . make a deal with the wife to do some motor shopping.

Re: 1981 CC - transom, decks, dog house.
 

Hey thanks Ken. I did see that spot for Eastern boats...pretty slick stuff. I guess they have to pay a SeaCraft owner to bend a rod on an Eastern? Nicely done :D I should note for the record an Eastern owner did tow me all the way home one dark night on the S side of Monomoy. :eek:

good luck getting the boat up and running.

Re: 1981 CC - transom, decks, dog house.
 

does that mean that boat is for sale?? :D just messing with ya!

Re: 1981 CC - transom, decks, dog house.
 

I went the reverse way on that... I openly claimed that I was picking up as many projects, boats, etc as possible while I still had my freedom. So I bought stuff cheap and started as many free projects as possible. So I don't have a lot of cash sunk in (yet) but I have peed on the hydrant and established my boundaries. We'll see how long that lasts.

Tiger and his boner have made for some interesting newly wed discussions.
Me: That one doesn't count she was just some floozy from the airport bar!
Her: why not?
Me: UM. because... he was just... you know... everyone agrees she doesn't count.
Her. who is everyone?
Me: you know... people. Don't count that one. (back peddling furiously).

(kudos to adam carolla for having this same discussion with his old lady.)

Ok, making fiberglass dust again.
 

This project is back on the docket. Here's the game plan:
- finish removing the old deck
- make a new closed transom
- make/buy an engine bracket
- raise the decks
- make a new doghouse
- make a new leaning post
- recore the topcap
- paint the whole thing
- buy a new motor, ff/gps, and steering.
- Most important: pop up up and down bowlight.
(- figure out how to post photos on here...)

MATERIALS
- I built a Tolman skiff 10 years ago, and redid it from the stringers up two years ago; no-blush epoxy over 10oz cloth and AC ply is my preferred material.
- Getthenet/shirmpin' convinced me to mold some stuff out of vinyl/1708
- I was undecided on paint, but since I love putting the cart before the horse, I went ahead and bought a gallon of Awlgrip on sale for$200 from westmarine. I guess that means I have to be painting within a year. Might try latex porch paint for no skid.

Chaser is a tuna boat!
 

The hull came with a binder full of women I mean old receipts. All kinds of offshore stuff (Lee's holders, Penn 30W's, Jamestown Distritbutors from when they were actaully on Jamestown Island), so I did some googling and discovered that the former owner has written some pretty good small boat articles, I decided to get in touch.

Turns out he's a great guy! Has a Seacraft20, lots of other Seacrafts over the years. And he used to tunafish 'Chaser', even featured her in an article on how to layout sportfishing boats: https://pbbackissues.advanced-pub.com
- "78 - Aug-Sep 2002" page 56. (Chaser is on page 78, screen shot below)

I haven't finished anything yet, so no photos of the build but hopefully soon.

May 1st deadline.
 

Did not make my May 1st deadline, to mount engine. Frankly, June 1st looking iffy too. 3 weeks ago: "I should have the tanks and decks in by the end of the week..." Anyway, lots of nice emails from BP (former owner), he even sent some ply peel! Nice guy, he built a great boat.

Progress! Bracket is out of the mold, console components I got from CMP (almost 10 years ago!) seem to fit my vision of a doghouse, both tanks ins, molded a livewell, and stuck the livewell into the leaning post. Now need to finish the transom, decks, and mount everything. What I have learned:
- Vinylester is better than poly, but stinks to high hell.
- Vinegar actually works pretty well for epoxy/VE clean up.
- I should not be allowed to mold and lay up things: I used a pile of tires for livewell mold, then spent 5 weeks engineering a way to keep this 700 lb 'water cannonball' from rolling around the deck...

So of course I bought an 8 ft crowder 130 UL to go with my brand new tuna harpoon I bought last summer, as well as a GO12 with Halo20+... because projects needs porn I mean motivation. I am not looking forward to sanding/faring that much surface area, it's like mowing an airport.